Improvement in farm-fences



-A. R. SPROUT.

Farm-Pence.

No, 219,319. Patented Sept. 2,1879.

N-PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHEH. WASHINGTON o C UNITED STATES PATENT ()FF'IGE.

A. RENSSELAER SPROUT, OF PICTURE ROCKS, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FAR M-FENCES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 219,319, dated September 2, 1879; application filed March 13, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, A. RENSSELAER SPnoUr, of Picture Books, in the county of Lycoming and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Farm-Fences, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in farm-fences, which will now be described, and pointed out in claims.

Figurel is a view of a panel of fence embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a view of the iron post. Fig. 3 is a transverse viewof same. Fig. 4 is a view of tension-spring on a larger scale. Fig. 5 is a view of the iron post as used in an all-wire fence. Fig.6 is a view of the iron post as used in an all-rail fence.

The letter A represents the iron post, which is composed of two pieces, b, of angle-bar, connected by fiat cross-bars c, riveted to the uprights, and the inner edges of each upright are serrated, as shown at b, for the purpose hereinafter described. 7

A base or foot bar, d, also of angle-bar iron, is secured to the uprights, which are stayed by the braces 0, giving to the post a transverse support.

The angles of the uprights and braces are in a reversed position relative to each other, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in order that the plain surface of each may be presented toward the other. By this construction the post is light and strong, and adapted to sit on the ground and serve for either portable'or stationary fences.

One method of setting up my fence is shown in Fig. l, and consists in the employment of both wooden rails and iron wires.

fare suitable wooden boards or rails, the

. ends of which are inserted in the openings in the post with the sides against the serrated edges 1) and resting on the cross-bars. The ends of therails of one panel overlap those of the adjoining panel, and a wedge, g, is driven in between the rails, which forces their sides against the serrated edges of the opening, thus holding them securely. The wires a are now stretched in any suitable manner, the only peculiarity in connection with which being the tension-springs,made of spring-wire spiraled,

'yardsand their use requires the wire to be out into corresponding lengths, the ends of the wire in every case being attached to the springs, as described, which serves to compensate for the expansion and contraction of the wire by the varying temperatures.

I deem it preferable to pass the wires through a hole in the cross-bar c, on which the spring is placed.

This improvedpost and tension-regulator for the wires may, of course, be used in an exclusively-wire fence without rails, as shown in Fig. 5, in which case the spans of wire may be about four rods each, and the springs affixed to each alternate post.

This tension-regulator may be used in any wire fence and with any post, and if, when put up, the strain on the springs is such as to hold the wire taut, they will still yield suflicient to permit contraction of the wire by cold weather, and thus is obviated that tendency found in many wire fences to pull the posts out of ground.

The post and wooden rail, with the wedge or key, may be employed without any wire, as shown in Fig. 6, and when thus used angular bar-iron cleats P may be secured to the rails, as shown in Fig. 6, to stiffen them.

This construction affords the advantage of permitting the removal of the fence either in section or bodily.

Having described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent- 1. As an improvement in fences, a post composed of two iron uprights connected by cross-bars, forming openings, the inner edges of which uprights are serrated, in combination with wooden rails placed in the openings with their ends overlapping, and having a wedge-key driven between the overlapping I tive to each other, and with their plain sur= ends, as set forth. faces against the plain surfaces of the uprights l2.bll1e ironhfenebe-post G1Omp(l)S6lt11 oftl two 2111- as set forth.

g ear uprig ts, p acec Wit 1 t e anges in 1 a reversed position relative to each other and RENbSELAhR SPBOUT' connected by cross-bar c, a base or foot bar, cl, Witnesses:

and the an gle-bar brace e on each side, placed A. J. DIETRIGK,

with their flanges in a reversed position rela- DANIEL STEOK. 

